Covering for irregular surfaces.



H. W. RITTER.

COVERING FORIRREGULAR SURFACES.

APPLlcATloN men MAR. 4. |915. L21 1,624.

Patnted Jan. 9, 1917.

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TTETT STATES PATENT @PETER HERMAN W. RITTER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TG THE GCODYERS METALLIC RUBBER SHOE COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F CQNNECTICUT.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 9, 191'?.

Application filed March 4, 1915. Serial No. 12,012.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMAN W. RITTER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coverings for Irregular Surfaces, of which the following is a full, clear,` and exact description.

lThe invention relates particularly to handles for articles of hand baggage and other articles having irregular surfaces and has for an object to produce a covering which is as strong and durable as those now in common use and which can be produced at a much lower cost.

As an example the ordinary handle for baggage consists of a metallic or other relatively rigid form with a leather covering cemented or otherwise attached thereto. My invention consists in the substitution for such leather covering, of a composite material the equal thereof in wearing qualities and appearance and which may be manufac- This saving in cost of manufacture is due partially to the use of cheaper materials, and partially to the fact that waste is almost entirely eliminated and that the material is applied with much less manipulation than is the case with leather, all of which is clearly set forth in the following specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a handle; and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same.

In the manufacture of my improved covering as applied to a handle use as a base therefor two elements a and of metal or other relatively rigid material shaped to fit one within the other. These two elements are those ordinarily used in the construction of the usual leather covered handle. These elements T cover respectively with plies 0 and d of stockinette or other easily conformable fabric. lit is necessary in order to have this covering fit snugly, to usea yieldable, elastic fabric, inasmuch as the metal elements are of irregular warped contour, and

stockinette or a similar knitted fabric provides such a covering which can be stretched or compressed at will without puckering, thus forming a reticulated or porous base to which rubber can be firmly attachedo The piece c which is applied to the element a need extend only slightly beyond the edge thereof and may, or may not be folded thereover. The piece Z on the element Z), however, is folded a considerable distance over so as to completely cover the edge, as at g, and leave no exposed metal. These two pieces c and d are attached to the metal by glue or any other suitable cement. To the fabric covered elements lf next apply coatings or layers of rubber compound e and f, respectively, which may, if desired, be colored and grained to imitate leather. As with trie stoclinette covering, this rubber layer is easily applied smoothly, without puckers or wrinkles, the composition being in an unvulcanized condition, and therefore plastic and conformable to any desired shape. rllhe covering' thus exhibits a distinct superiority over leather, which must be stretched over the convex surfaces of the form, and compressed at those points that are concave. Any superfluous material may be thrown bacl; in the batch of stoel; to be again worked up, thereby eliminating any loss from waste. The built up parts A and B are then combined as in the ordinary leather covered handle, the rings 7L and t inserted at the ends thereof, and the edges of the part bent inwardly to firmly grip the part a., the whole being permanently united by means of rivets The structure as now built up is next placed in the vulcanizer where tbe rubberl is cured, the vulcanizing process firmly uniting it to the fabric base and giving the whole a permanent set.

Having described my invention, what f claim and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A rubber covered article comprising a relatively rigid form, a covering of yieldable fabric attached to said form, and a layer of vulcanized rubber compound superimposed on and united to said fabric.

2. A rubber covered article comprising a relatively rigid form, said form consisting of an inner element held in position and partially inclosed by an outer element, a covering of yieldable fabric attached to said form, and a layer of vulcanized rubber compound superimposed on and united to said fabric.

3. A rubber covered article comprising an upper element, the edges of said upper element being bent downwardly; a lower ele- 'ment, the edge portions of said lower element being bent upwardly to overlap and grip the edges of said upper element; and layers of yieldable fabric and vulcanized rubber compound successively applied to and united With the outer surfaces of said rigid elements.

4. A rubber covered article comprisingV tivo overlapping metallic segments, coverings of knitted fabric on the outer surfaces of said segments, vulcanized rubber superyposed thereon, said fabric and rubber being` turned smoothly around the edges of said Vpound superimposed on'and united to said fabric.

6. A rubber covered article comprising a Yday of March7 Vhandle-like form, a. layer of yieldable fabric Y conforming to the contour of said form, and

a layer of vulcanized rubber compound superimposed on and united to saidfabric. 8. A rubber handle comprising a metallic handle-like form7 a layer of porous yieldable Vfabric adhesively secured to said form providing a smooth covering, and a layerY of vulcanized rubber compound superimposed on and united to said fabric.V

Signed at Naugatuck, Conn.,V Vthis 2ndV 1915. HERMAN WV. RITTER.

Vitnesses: l l

WARREN D. ABEL, CHARLES S. MYERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

